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Research, Grant Tackles Tropical Disease

Associated Press

Updated: 3 years ago.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given the University of Georgia Research Foundation a $3.4 million grant to help fight a debilitating tropical disease. UGA officials said Tuesday the award will be used to expand research on how to eliminate schistosomiasis, a disease caused by worms and contracted when people come in contact with contaminated water. (GPB File Photo.)

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given the University of Georgia Research Foundation a $3.4 million grant to help fight a debilitating tropical disease.

UGA officials said Tuesday the award will be used to expand research on how to eliminate schistosomiasis, a disease caused by worms and contracted when people come in contact with contaminated water.

Experts say the worms are not found in the U.S., but more than 200 million people worldwide are infected.

Dan Colley is the director of UGA's Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. He says in a statement that the project has had success in reducing infections and hopes to move closer to disease elimination.

The center, established in 1998, includes 20 faculty members and promotes biomedical research and educational programs.